Most Emailed Articles

The Rossi Matched Pair combination rifle and shotgun is an excellent first gun for the
youngster as well as a great utility tool for the experienced shooter.

Some
of the best ideas are often the simplest ideas, and there are few things simpler
in the firearms world than a break-open single-shot shotgun or single-shot 22
rimfire rifle. Combine the two into one compact package, with instant-interchange
barrels and modern safety features, and you have something still simple yet
quite special. The new Rossi Matched Pair is exactly thata lightweight,
very accurate 22 Long Rifle/410 (Modified choke) shotgun package with an innovative and deceptively simple design. And it retails for just $140 (blued version)
with both barrels!

The Rossi Matched
Pair is yet another innovation resulting from the recent acquisition by Taurus
of the U.S. marketing and manufacturing rights to a number of models in the
long-standing Rossi line. (The first was the Rossi Model 62 pump-action 22
rifle) The Matched Pair, like the Model 62, is the adaptation of an existing Rossi product into something distinctively different. In this case, the extra is the addition of an interchangeable
18.5-inch 22 Long Rifle barrel to the well-known Rossi basic break-open 22-inch
single-shot shotgun, configured in a compact 410/22 format especially intended
for the first rifle, first shotgun youth market. And I'll tell you right
here, the Matched Pair's combination of features and price point cannot
presently be matched by anything else of its type on the market.

Deceptively
Simple
To bring the Matched Pair to market under the banner of Taurus new BrazTech
subsidiary, design engineer Luciano Rossi came up with a novel way to adapt
the offset ignition requirement of the rimfire 22 LR with the centerfire frame
design of the break-open shotguns frame so that the same receiver could
be used without alteration. The key was the existing monobloc construction design
of the Rossi shotgun.

Monobloc construction,
which is more commonly found on expensive-grade break-open side-by-side and
over-under shotguns, involves a solid breechblock providing the latch and hinge
support for the lockup of the action into which the actual barrels are fitted.
This is an exceedingly strong design concept, and the oversize dimension of
the monobloc allowed Rossi to offset the bore axis of the rimfire 22 Long Rifle
slightly lower than the axis of the centerfire shotshell bore so that the firing
pin in the receiver would impact the rim of the 22 cartridge instead of the
center. Thus, both the shotshell barrel and the 22 LR barrel work equally well
with the same original centerfire design receiver.

The basic mechanism
of the Matched Pair is a familiar break-open, side-lever action with an exposed,
large-spur manual-cock hammer. Ignition is accomplished by a trigger-link transfer
bar, which remains retracted at rest unless the trigger is pulled all the way
to the rear. This allows the hammernose to rest safely against the frame when
down with no possibility of contacting the internal spring-loaded firing pin.

Shooting
Rossis Matched Pair 22 LR Rifle

Factory Load

Velocity
(fps)

Standard
Deviation
(fps)

25-Yard
Accuracy
(Inches)

CCI
36-gr. Mini-Mag HP

1347

21

0.83

Winchester
37-gr.
Super-X HP

1269

17

0.68

Eley
40-gr. Tenex Solid

1098

5

0.50

Federal
40-gr. High Velocity Solid

1284

19

1.00

PMC
40-gr. Target Solid

1112

20

1.00

Remington
40-gr. Target Solid

1144

16

0.75

Overall
average accuracy

0.79

NOTES: Accuracy is the average of 10 five-shot groups fired from a sandbag
benchrest at 25 yards with the rifle equipped with a Bushnell Sportview
4X scope. Velocity is the average of 10 rounds measured eight feet from
the guns muzzle.

A manual Rolling
Block safety bar operating lever on the left side of the frame was also added.
When Safe the system raises a safety bar into an intercept position
preventing a cocked hammer from striking the transfer bar/firing pin mechanism
if the trigger is squeezed. This allows safe decocking simply by pulling the
trigger. If you then move the safety lever back to the Fire position,
the hammer moves the rest of the way forward to a safe rest position against
the frame. When the gun is empty, the safety can be reengaged by pulling the
hammer slightly to the rear, which allows the action to be safely opened and
closed for loading with the safety engaged. And, with the safety thus engaged,
you can cock the hammer of a loaded gun in the field with no possibility of
accidental discharge yet you also have the instant availability of a safe decock.

Moreover,
the action cannot be opened if the hammer is cocked, and if the hammer is moved
to the cocked position after the action is opened, it cannot be closed until
the hammer is decocked. Plus, the break-open mechanism snap-ejects fired cases
completely free of the chamberno need to fumble to pluck live rounds or
fired cases free of the chamber with clumsy gloved fingers in hunting season.
As a final safety element, all guns come with a molded trigger seal and cable
lock security system for safe home storage. Without question this is the most
safety-laden simple single-shot firearm I have ever encountered.

Feature-Filled
The rifle barrel features adjustable front and rear sights. The square-notch
rear is drift-adjustable for windage, with a setscrew-lock, and it has a white-triangular
index mark for center. The front Patridge blade is manually adjustable for elevation
and also has a setscrew lock. The shotgun barrel features a front brass bead.
Plus, the rifle barrel is drilled and tapped for scope mounts and will accept
any standard Thompson/Center Contender mount base. (Scope mounting does require
removal of the rear sight.)

The
Matched Pair is available in blued or brushed satin stainless versions. Both
feature uncheckered Brazilian Imbuia wood buttstock and forend. The blued versions
stocks are finished with a walnut stain while the stainless versions stocks
are stained to a matte black. Sling swivels are standard on both versions. The
trigger guard on both versions is black molded polymer. The buttstock features
a pistol grip with a slight ambidextrous palmswell. The hard rubber buttpad
carries a molded-in Rossi logo. A padded nylon/canvas carrying case, with individual
padded compartments for the stock/receiver and each barrel, is available as
an accessory.

Swapping barrels
takes about 30 seconds and is easily done in the field. First (always), open
the action and make sure the gun is unloaded. Close the action and unscrew the
forend sling swivel. Pull off the forend, open the action, rotate the installed
barrel open and off the hinge bar, hook the new barrel on, close the action,
pop the forend back in place, and retighten the sling swivel. (When Robert Morrison,
Tauruss U.S. executive vice president and COO, demonstrated the Matched
Pair to Wal-Mart buyers at their Arkansas headquarters last October, he did
the switch in 20 seconds flat, which may have influenced their decision to put
the blued version into all their sporting goods departments this year.)

Shoots GreatPerformancewise,
the accuracy of the Matched Pairs button-rifled 22 LR barrel that I test-fired
was excellent equal to bolt-action and other repeating rifles costing
hundreds of dollars more. Trigger pulls on both of the review samples were firm
but very crisp with little overtravel. They both broke at a clean 6.5 to seven
pounds. I put the stainless-steel version through an accuracy review at 25 yards
with six different varieties of 22 Long Rifle ammunition ranging from high-velocity
hunting loads to match-grade target fodder, using an old favored one-inch-tube
Bushnell rimfire Sportview scope set for zero parallax at that distance. The
results are listed in the chart on the preceding page. Not a single five-shot
group fired went larger than 1.25 inches, and the majority were a single ragged
hole.

The little 410
shotshell barrel is equally utilitarian. Im not a passionate shotgunner,
but for just plain fun its hard to beat. One of my PASA Park range buddies
and I took turns busting hand-thrown clay targets with great ease, and its Modified
choke bore offers a superb rabbit-hunting tool (not to mention a great rattlesnake
eliminator) out to 20 yards for a youngsters first days in the field.

The Rossi/BrazTech/Taurus
team believes the Matched Pair is the perfect gun for younger shooters to use
to learn about marksmanship, ethical hunting, and responsible firearms ownership.
Lightweight, sturdy, reliable, it is designed to become a part of family outings
to help teach the next generation of hunters and sport shooters safely and economically.
After inspecting and working with it closely, I likewise believe its a
fine little gun that can serve any purpose from initial training in safe firearms
handling to serious paper punching and hunting. Its the right size for
the young or small-stature beginner and provides the correct fit necessary to
proper stance and shooting posture. Yet at the same time it is a fine adult
tool for compact carry around in the ranchers pickup, ATV, or farmers
tractor.